A Toi Phil was the latest potentially smart Willie Mullins prospect to win at Graded level when readily landing the Grade 2 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors 'E25,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown today.

The Gigginstown House Stud owned son of Day Flight went clear of his rivals from the second last flight and in the end recorded a comfortable seven lengths win over Acapella Bourgeois

Afterwards Mullins stated “he's learning and maturing all the time and was more like a racehorse today compared to his previous few runs.

"It was two and a half miles today, and I'd say he'd have no problem going out to three miles. He's a very accurate jumper, and he'll be entered in all the novice hurdles at Cheltenham. He will probably go for either the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett and I doubt if he will run again before Cheltenham.

"I don't think he was broken in until he was four in France, so he's nearly more like a French three-year-old than a six-year-old. He's still immature."

The race sponsors had put up a €25,000 bonus to the stable staff of winner, A Toi Phil, if he wins at this year's Cheltenham Festival and following the race, bookmakers cut A Toi Phil's price for the Neptune Novice Hurdle to 20/1 (Paddy Power from 25/1), 14s (BoyleSports) 14s (Betfair from 20/1).

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee